After FIFA World Cup, Zee Lands India vs Zimbabwe Series Rights as FanCode Retains Streaming Partnership

India’s upcoming white-ball tour of Zimbabwe will be available across television and digital platforms after Zimbabwe Cricket announced a broadcast partnership with Zee Entertainment Enterprises and FanCode for the three-match T20I series scheduled in July.

The deal will see Zee Entertainment televise the series on its recently launched Unite8 Sports channels, while FanCode will exclusively livestream all three matches for viewers in India.

Zee Expands Growing Sports Portfolio

The acquisition marks another significant step in Zee Entertainment’s efforts to strengthen its sports broadcasting presence. The network has already secured rights to several major sporting properties, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, and now adds India’s Zimbabwe tour to its expanding portfolio.

The T20I series will be broadcast on Unite8 Sports 1 and Unite8 Sports 1 HD in Hindi, alongside Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD in English.

Speaking about the development, Unite8 Sports chief business officer Bavesh Janavlekar described the acquisition as part of the company’s long-term strategy.

“We are delighted to bring India’s tour of Zimbabwe to viewers as we continue to scale Unite8 Sports into a compelling destination for premium global sport. This acquisition reflects our broader strategy of building a diversified sports portfolio,” Janavlekar said.

He added that the broadcaster hopes to build a long-term partnership with Zimbabwe Cricket while continuing to offer high-quality sporting content across its platforms.

FanCode Retains Digital Rights

FanCode, which has been a long-standing digital partner of Zimbabwe Cricket, will continue its association by exclusively streaming the series for Indian audiences.

Co-founder Yannick Colaco said the partnership aligns with FanCode’s goal of bringing international cricket closer to Indian fans.

“This partnership is a natural extension of our commitment to bringing every Indian cricket fan closer to the game. The India Tour of Zimbabwe 2026 will be a high-octane T20 spectacle, and FanCode will bring all the action live to fans, at their convenience,” Colaco said.

Zimbabwe Cricket Welcomes Expanded Reach

Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani believes the combined reach of Zee and FanCode will significantly enhance the visibility of one of the country’s most anticipated cricketing events.

“Welcoming India to Zimbabwe is always a special occasion, and this tour promises to be even bigger with the broadcast reach that ‘Z’ and FanCode bring together,” Mukuhlani said.

“We have been working with FanCode for a while and are delighted to continue that partnership for this marquee series. Having Unite8 Sports on board as a TV broadcaster is a testament to the growing appetite for Zimbabwean cricket.”

India vs Zimbabwe 2026 Schedule

The three-match T20I series will be played at the Harare Sports Club:

• First T20I – July 23
• Second T20I – July 25
• Third T20I – July 26

The series is expected to attract significant attention, particularly with India likely to field a young squad featuring several emerging stars as preparations continue for future ICC events.

FIFA World Cup Adds To Zee’s Sports Push

The Zimbabwe rights acquisition comes shortly after Zee secured more than a dozen major commercial partners for its FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage.

Brands including Mahindra, Diageo, Apple, Pernod Ricard and Mondelez have already signed on for the tournament, highlighting growing advertiser confidence in the broadcaster’s sports strategy.

With cricket and football now forming the backbone of its sports offerings, Zee appears determined to establish Unite8 Sports as a major player in India’s increasingly competitive sports broadcasting market.